Polydopamine-coated graphene oxide nanosheets embedded in sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) hybrid UF membranes with superior antifouling properties for water treatment

A novel high-performance hybrid ultrafiltration (UF) membrane was fabricated by blending polydopamine-coated graphene oxide (PDGO) nanosheets with sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) (SPES) via phase inversion method and tested for the removal of natural organic matter (humic acid; HA) from aqueous solution. The PDGO nanosheets were synthesized via self-polymerization of dopamine with GO nanosheets in alkaline tris-buffer solution at room temperature for 24 h and were fully characterized. Hybrid SPES membranes were prepared by incorporating 1–10 wt% of PDGO, which were further characterized by Raman spectroscopy, surface zeta potential, and field emission scanning electron microscopy to confirm membrane stability without any defects even by adding up to 10 wt%, of PDGO nanosheets. The membranes demonstrated a significant increase in hydrophilicity, water flux, and retention rate for HA (R_HA). For instance, water permeability with 5 wt% PDGO (M5) (680.7 L m⁻² h⁻¹ bar⁻¹) was ca. 1.8-folds that of the pristine SPES membrane (380.8 L m⁻² h⁻¹ bar⁻¹), while maintaining an HA rejection (R_HA) of 91.7% for a 50 ppm HA feed solution. This was accompanied by a distinct increase in surface hydrophilicity of M5, which showed a water contact angle of 27.8°, well below that of pristine SPES membrane (59.1°). The hybrid UF membranes also demonstrated a significant reduction in HA adhesion onto the membrane surface along with a superior antifouling performance for the membrane containing 10 wt% PDGO, giving irreversible fouling ratio (R_ir) of only 6.9% compared to 32.7% for the pristine membrane.